Game Notes 7/22; Series loss, a hit, a hit, and today’s probables

**COMPLETE GAME NOTES**

Today’s Preview: The Clinton LumberKings (A, Mariners) meet the Lake County Captains (A, Indians) for the first and only time during the 2017 season. The LumberKings lead the all-time series 13–8, dating back to 2010, and lead against Lake County 13–8, since the LumberKings became a Seattle Mariners affiliate in 2009. During the 2016 season, the LumberKings hosted Lake County and lost first game of a three-game series only to rally to take two out of the three games. The meeting is a rematch of the 2010 Midwest Championship Series in which the LumberKings fell in five games to the Captains.

LumberKings Starter: Nick Wells, 22, makes his first 17 appearance and start of the season for the Clinton LumberKings. The Virginia native, returned to the starting rotation following an over two-week long stint on the disabled list with lower back stiffness. He took the loss in a 4.1 inning performance at home against the Bowling Green Hot Rods in which he allowed three runs, on six hits, while walking two and striking out two. Wells was scheduled to make a start on July 2 and was warming up in the bullpen when his lower back stiffened up prompting him to be scratched from the start. The lefty, who had back issues in 2016, has said he feels like he’s 21 going on 60. Prior to landing on the DL, Wells was throwing the ball well and had a modest winning streak of two games before being sidelined. He was drafted in the third round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and was then traded to the Mariners on July 31, 2015 along with two fellow LHP prospects for Major League right-handed reliever Mark Lowe.

Captains Starter: Justin Garza, 23, makes his 18 appearance and sixth start of the season for the Lake County Captains. The Glendora California native worked out of the bullpen his last time out, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one on the road against the Burlington Bees. Garza last started on May 29 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods and lasted just two innings, his shortest start of the year. Following the start, Garza was placed on the disabled list and did not pitch again until June 10. The righty has been with Lake County since opening day and began the season in the bullpen. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 8th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Cal-State Fullerton. His draft stock was impacted when he required Tommy John Surgery during his senior year following a tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament. The Indians drafted Garza in 2012 out of high school as well.

Last Time Out: A five-run bottom of the third inning for the Fort Wayne TinCaps was the deciding rally of a 6–3 Clinton LumberKings loss on Friday night at Parkview Field. After failing to put a runner on through the first five innings, Clinton (11–17, 42–54) mustered a late charge that came up short. Steven Ridings made his LumberKings debut as Clinton’s starter but lasted just 2.2 innings. The righty failed to get through the bottom of the third when Fort Wayne (18–10, 45–54) rallied to send nine men to the plate and score five runs. Brad Zunica had the big hit of the inning, a two-run home run to right that went for his 16 of the season. Ridings (0–1) was removed following a Jack Suwinski two-run double that capped the TinCaps rally. Steven Moyers followed out of the LumberKings bullpen and allowed the TinCaps final run of the night in the bottom of the fourth. Moyers and Michael Koval then combined to shutout Fort Wayne over the final four innings. Reggie Lawson started for Fort Wayne and was perfect through his first five innings and did not allow a man to reach until Dimas Ojeda singled to open the top of the sixth inning.

Medina Scoreless Streaking: Jeffeson Medina continued his dominance on the mound for Clinton on Wednesday night against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. The right hander added three shutout innings to his scoreless inning streak giving him 24.1 innings without allowing a run, the longest by a LumberKings pitcher this season.

Miller Traded: LumberKings ace, and one of the team’s four all-stars from this season, Brandon Miller was traded in the morning hours on Thursday. The right-hander was part of a five-player trade that sent big league reliever Dan Phelps to Seattle Mariners from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Miller, Bryan Hernandez, and former LumberKings pitchers Lukas Schiraldi and Pablo Lopez.

No Cigar: The loss on Friday night prevented the LumberKings from doing something they have done just once before this season, win three consecutive series. Clinton finished a six-game homestand 4–6 before hitting the road for the Eastern division swing and dropping two of three to the TinCaps.

Nearly Perfect: After an offensive break out on Thursday night against Fort Wayne, Clinton returned to their offensive malaise and were dominated by TinCaps starter Reggie Lawson through the first five innings. Lawson was perfect through five before Dimas Ojeda singled to right, breaking up the perfect game and no-hitter. The LumberKings would go on to chase Lawson in the inning with a two-run rally.

This date in baseball history: On this date in 2000, over 20,000 Red Sox fans gather at Fenway for a tribute entitled, “Ted Williams: A Celebration of an American Hero.” The two hour salute of the man many considered to be the greatest hitter in baseball history, a vet of World War II and the Korean War and a generous supporter of the Jimmy Fund, in addition to moving music and video, includes comments from present and former Red Sox players and broadcasters, historian Ken Burns, and former U.S. Senator John Glenn, who was Ted’s wing man during the Korean War.

Broadcast Information: All games will be broadcast live on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at LumberKings.com via the TuneIn Radio App with Erik Oas, in his first season as the “Voice of the LumberKings.”

Clinton LumberKings

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Class-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners & Charter Member of the Midwest League

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